Michigan
3-3
Denver
5-0
Michigan Unable to Overcome Late Goals at No. 9 Denver
3/1/2023 9:29:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
» Two late goals from Denver allowed it to earn a 7-5 win over Michigan.
» Jill Smith scored four of Michigan's five goals.
» Maya Santa-Maria made eight saves in the cage.
DENVER, Colo. -- Two late fourth-quarter goals from No. 9-ranked Denver allowed it to earn a 7-5 victory over the No. 21 University of Michigan women's lacrosse team Wednesday evening (March 1) at Peter Barton Stadium.
The Wolverines (3-3) were led by sophomore Jill Smith, who netted four goals, while Kaylee Dyer had one goal and both Julia Schwabe and Jane Fetterolf tallied an assist. On the draw, Josie Gooch won four and Smith won two.
Defensively, Maddie Burns had three caused turnovers and three ground balls, Grace Callahan had one caused turnover and two ground balls and Morgan Whitaker had four ground balls and one cased turnover. As a defensive unit, Michigan forced 12 turnovers, eight of which were caused. Junior Maya Santa-Maria started in the cage for the sixth time this season and made eight saves against the Denver (5-0).
U-M got on the scoreboard quickly as Fetterolf found Smith for a goal in the top corner of the cage. The Pioneers answered with two straight goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead into the second quarter.
Denver opened the second quarter with its third goal, and Smith quickly brought the U-M deficit back to just one with a free-position goal. Each team added one more goal to close out the half, including the third of the game to Smith as Michigan went into the halftime break trailing 4-3.
The Pioneers extended their lead to 5-3 before Smith notched her fourth of the game on a free position and Schwabe found Dyer to even the score at 5 with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
After Michigan had a goal waved off, Denver used a timeout and its next possession to break the tie and take a 6-5 advantage with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers extended their lead back to two as it bounced a shot off the ground into the back of the cage with one second left on the shot clock and just over seven minutes of action left in the contest.
Michigan looked to come within one on an Annabelle Burke free position attempt with under five minutes to play, but the ball was scooped by the Denver goalie. U-M saw one final opportunity in the closing minutes but were unable to overcome the deficit and fell to Denver.
The Wolverines continue their road trip Friday (March 3) when they take on Colorado at 3 p.m. MT at Kittredge Field.
